Obituaries April 5, 2013

Lucille Witherspoon
TUPELO – Charlie Lucille Witherspoon Stubbs, 97, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at the Tupelo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Lee County on March 15, 1916, to Emmitt and Charlie Crayton Witherspoon. She attended school at Poplar Church in Saltillo. She worked for several years as a farmer, a cook at George Washington Carver High School and at Purnell’s Pride. She was a member of Poplar CME Church in Saltillo. “Mama Cille,” as she was fondly called, was a giving and loving person. She never obtained the wealth of the world, but she had the greatest wealth of all, her love for God and people. Her favorite sayings were, “No man knows the works of God” and “Let the Lord handle it.” She loved working in the church, holding several positions throughout the years as a Sunday School teacher, usher and as a stewardess. She also formed the first formal adult choir at Poplar Church. She loved her family and lived as an example for them by maintaining good moral values and by helping to meet the needs of others.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lane Chapel CME Church in Tupelo with Elder Jerry Christian Jr. officiating and Elder Patrick Head Sr. delivering the eulogy. Grayson-Porter’s Mortuary is in charge. Burial will be in Porter Memorial Gardens in Tupelo.
She is survived by two daughters, Pearlie Traylor (George) of Saltillo and Gladys Betts of Tupelo; two sons, Bobby Stubbs (Karen) of Tupelo and Jimmy Stubbs (Andriene) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; a special niece, Nettie Mae McBride of Chicago; a special nephew, Johnny Black of Chicago; 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Charlie Jr. Agnew of Saltillo and James Morrow (Katherine) of St. Louis, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Mable Witherspoon of Chicago Heights, Ill.; numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by 12 siblings, two grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and a son-in-law, John Betts.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today and family hour from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Poplar CME Church in Saltillo, located at 1017 CR 681, which is the Beech Spring Road.
Online condolences can be left at www.grayson-porters.com.

O’clay McKinney
SMITHVILLE – O’clay Maxine McKinney, 83, died March 30, 2013. She was born July 8, 1929, to the late Kelsie Wells and Corene Byrd in Smithville. She was educated in Smithville public schools. She met and was united in holy matrimony to the late John Houston Wax. She accepted Christ as her Savior at a young age and became involved in church and community activities ongoing.
O’clay had a love for teaching and being a leader early on throughout her life. She was so admired and inspired by her teacher for her dedication and thirst for education. In his absence he allowed her to be the substitute teacher.
O’clay worked at B&B Cleaners for many years, Amory Garment Plant for 23 years and Walmart for 23 years, where she retired.
She loved her church. She loved people and people loved her. She enjoyed singing and working with the youth. On Sundays you could find O’clay present in the sanctuary praising the Lord. After church she would be busy encouraging, fellowshipping or working diligently to bring out the vision of her beloved church. O’clay loved her family. On Sundays after church would be family time. She would cook a big delicious dinner. She loved to cook. Her door was always open to anyone who wanted to eat. She would sit around the dinner table instilling in her family the importance of going to church and serving God. O’clay made a strong impact on the church family and the community.
She served over the years on almost every board and organization of St. Paul Church. She was Church Secretary, Sunday School Secretary (25 years), Class Leader (25 years), President of the Board of Christian Education (30 years), Sunday School Teacher, Church Treasurer, Missionary, Stewardess, Trustee, Usher Board Director and Usher, Choir Director for the Adult and Young Adult Choir. O’clay sang in the choir and also played the piano for the church and church choirs. She has attended countless numbers of church conferences and took many of St. Paul’s youth to Leadership Training School in Holly Springs. O’clay was an Agent for Darden & Sons for more than 25 years.
O’clay was a member of the S&A Gospelets for 26 years and the group never had a bad word between them. She was also a member of the organization Eastern Star, Royal Chapter 30, Amory and was a Worthy Matron for 50 years. She loved to work for the Lord.
A Celebration of Life Service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013, at St. Paul C.M.E. Church with Rev. Felix Hayes officiating. Burial will follow at the New Hope Cemetery in Smithville. Darden & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
She leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, Kelly (Nathaniel) Chatman of Philadelphia, Pa., Emma (Howard) Standifer of Smithville and Josephine (Herschel) Vaughn of Aberdeen; three grandchildren, Kanisha Chatman, Kobie Vaughn (Brandy) and Scherita Vaughn; four great-grandchildren, Sierra Vaughn, Jasmine Vaughn, Makayla Vaughn and Kobie Vaughn Jr.; two Godchildren, Camelia Morrow and Jacqueline Meaders Booth; one nephew, Willie Wells; two very special cousins, Theodis McKinney (Ernestine) and John Lenzsy Gipson and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Willie Wells, and one grandchild, Howard Randall Standifer.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 6 p.m. and family hour from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. The body will lie in state one hour prior to service time.

Julia C. Pugh
AMORY – Julia Carolyn Pugh, 77, died on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at North Mississippi Medical Center. Born on Nov. 24, 1935, in Amory, she was a daughter of the late Ormand Kimbrough and Lilleene Wiygul Pugh.
Miss Pugh was an English major and received her Master’s degree in Library Science from Mississippi State College for Women. She worked as a Library Assistant at Amory Municipal Library. Believing in God and Jesus Christ, she did not like organized religion. An avid reader and studier of the Bible, Miss Pugh had lots of scriptures posted on her refrigerator. She was passionate about women’s rights and loved dogs. Unique, strong-willed, having a good sense of humor and a quest for knowledge, Miss Pugh enjoyed good food, reading and visiting the library, watching baseball, especially the Atlanta Braves on TV, crossword puzzles, cross-stitching and classical music.
She is survived by her cousins, Sue Wiygul Martin, Springville, Ala., Jimmy Wiygul, Birmingham, Ala., and David Hodo, Amory; and special friends, Brenda Wilson, Ruby Holman, Carol Halbert, Delma Rodabough, Linda Reich, Martha Jurney and Wanda Nesbit.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6, in Masonic Cemetery with Bro. Matt Stark officiating. E.E. Pickle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Everyone is asked to meet at the cemetery at 12:50 p.m. Saturday.
For those who prefer, memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be given Amory Municipal Library, 401 2nd Ave. N., Amory, MS 38821.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.

Quiana HubbardTUPELO – Quiana Latisha Marie Hubbard, 29, died Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at Methodist Health Care. She accepted Christ at an early age.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mt. Pleasant M.B. Church at Chesterville. Pastor Tracy Hubbard will officiate. Burial will be in the Verona Cemetery. N.L. Jones Funeral Directors is in charge.
She is survived by her father, Ausie Hubbard Jr. of Tupelo; her grandparents, Aseleane Blanchard and Ausie Hubbard Sr. (Betty), all of Tupelo; four brothers, Quienterrio Henderson of Madison, Wis., Bearnard Shells (Elizabeth) and Ausie Hubbard III, both of Tupelo, and Stefono Hubbard of Baldwyn; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Darlene Henderson.
Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today.

Willie Mae EwingABERDEEN – Willie Mae Ewing, 94, died Sunday, March 31, 2013, at Community Hospice at Darlington Oaks in Verona. She was a member of St. Peter United Methodist Church. She loved gardening and fishing.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Peter United Methodist Church in Aberdeen with Pastor Benjamin Wax officiating. Burial will be in the Oddfellows Rest Cemetery. Belle Memorial Funeral Home of Aberdeen in charge.
She is survived by one son, Billy Wayne Holliday (Alene) of Aberdeen; four grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel.

Doris GammillPONTOTOC – Doris Gammill, 82, died Thursday, April 4, 2013. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Tutor Memorial Funeral Home of Pontotoc.Ora Lee AveryGUYS, Tenn. – Ora Lee McKinnon Avery, 87, died Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at her home. She was born March 16, 1926. She was a graduate of Scales Street High School and Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Rest M.B. Church.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Rest M.B. Church in Guys, Tenn., with the Rev. O.J. Saulter officiating. Burial will be in the St. Rest Cemetery. Patterson Memorial Chapel of Corinth is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include her children, Larry Avery, Beverly Avery Ratliff, Sheila Avery Durr (Paul) and Charlotte Avery Crayton (Harry), all of Guys, Tenn., Donna Avery Wright of Corinth, Pamela Avery Young (Ron) of Lakeland, Tenn., Ron), Kimberly Avery Wright (Keith) of Harvest, Ala.; grandchildren, Nikki Durr of Atlanta, Ga., Jermaine Crayton of Orlando, Fla., Brandon Wright of Corinth, Skylar Crayton of Corinth, Eboni Crayton of Houston, Texas, Erika Wright Donnell (Mario) of Corinth, Braxton and Kendall Wright of Harvest, Ala., Ronnie Young of Lakeland, Tenn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert C. Avery; her parents, Percy and Daisy Gaines McKinnon; siblings, Brack, Percy and O.C. McKinnon, Mary McKinnon Kirk, Sarah McKinnon Robinson, Julia McKinnon Avery; grandchild, Arie Durr.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Rest M.B. Church.

Daisie CousinWEST POINT – Daisie Cousin, 78, passed away on Monday, April 1, 2013, at the North Mississippi Center in West Point.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Upper Prairie Creek M.B. Church in Woodland. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Carter Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of the arrangements.
The body will lie in repose at the church from noon to service time Saturday.ˆChristopher FosterSHANNON – Christopher Foster, 53, died Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born May 1, 1959, in Chicago to Robert and Luverta Jones Foster of Shannon. He was a 1978 graduate of Shannon High School. He attended Mississippi State University and later received an associate degree in electrical engineering. He was a certified electrician who worked for Tecumseh. He was a member of Johnson Chapel M.B. Church.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Johnson Chapel M.B. Church in Shannon with the Rev. Marvin McWhorter officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Agnew & Sons Funeral Home of Verona is in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Marcia Sudduth Foster; one son, Derrick Northington; his parents; sister, Yolanda Brown; brothers, Robert (Sharon) Foster, Kenneth (Tonya) Foster and Dexter Foster; mother-in-law, Fannine R. Sudduth; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Johnnie) Foster, and Thomas and Ella Jane Jones.
Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. today and family hour from 5 to 6 p.m. today. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service.
Family and friends may sign the guest registry at www.agnewandsons.com

David EwingABERDEEN – David Ewing went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 1, 2013. He was born Aug. 15, 1930, to Turner and Ada Ewing in Aberdeen. He accepted Christ at an early age and united with Daniel Baptist Church in Aberdeen. He attended school at Shivers High School. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He worked for Phillips Construction Company for more than 20 years until his retirement.
A Celebration of Life Service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First M.B. Church in Aberdeen with the Rev. Willie A. Davis, officiating. Burial will follow at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Aberdeen. Darden & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Lois Elizabeth Ewing, whom he married in 1955; six children, David (Anita) Ewing of Aberdeen, Patricia Ewing Wilson of Columbus, Shirley (Dave) Gathings of Hamilton, Turner (Shawn) Ewing, Jackie (Delois) Ewing, Timothy (Latoya) Ewing, all of Aberdeen; 17 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Willie A. Davis Sr.; a special son, Dave Gathings; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by three brothers; and four sisters.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home. The body will lie in state one hour prior to service time on Saturday.

Marvin LambNETTLETON – John Marvin Lamb died Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Aberdeen. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Nettleton.

Jerry SparksBLUE SPRINGS – Jerry Sparks, 75, died Thursday, April 4, 2013, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was a retired auto mechanic, a Methodist and an Air Force veteran. He was an avid NASCAR fan.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Waters Funeral Home in Baldwyn with Bro. David Hendrix and Bro. Phil Sparks officiating. Burial will be in the Jericho Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Thelma Lee DeMastus Sparks of Blue Springs; two daughters, Lucy Sparks of Blue Springs and Tammy Moore (Alvin) of Jacksonville, Fla.; two sons, Bryan Sparks (Heather) of Blue Springs and Thomas Sparks of Blue Springs; three sisters, Barbara Voitoffer of Pontotoc, Janice McBrayer of Birmingham Ridge and Paulette Lindsey of Baldwyn; two brothers, Jimmy Sparks of Mt. Vernon and Freddie Sparks of Blue Springs; nine grandchildren, Mikyra Sparks, Tyshun Jackson, Quentin Knox Jr., Kane Sparks, Dylan Sparks, Dennis Sparks, Sylas Sparks, Mackinzie Moore and Chandler White.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom amd Lela Ladell Hendrix, and a brother, Phillip Sparks.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Dorothy FavaPONTOTOC – Dorothy Ann Clara Fava, 90, died on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. She was born May 23, 1922, in Clarksdale. She was a former member of St. Michael’s in Memphis, St. Christopher’s in Pontotoc and St. Joseph’s in Greenville. She was a member of St. Anne’s Sewing Circle, the Legion of Mary and St. Michael’s Altar Society. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by two daughters, Andrea Fava of Greenville and Lisa Dearman of Canton, Ga.; two sons, Johnny J. Fava of Canton and Pete J. Fava Jr. (Laura) of Pontotoc; a sister, Margaret Johnston of Memphis; five grandchildren, Angela Fava, Pam Beck (Jody), Joseph Fava, Denise Fava and Tori Dearman; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete J. Fava; Sr.; and her parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday with services following at 10 a.m. at Forest Hill East Funeral Home in Memphis. Interment will be in Forest Hill East Cemetery. A memorial service will be at 6:30 p.m. today at St. James Catholic Church in Tupelo. Visitation will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today at St. James.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or to NMMC Medical Center Foundation, c/o Hospice, 422A East President Ave., Tupelo, MS 38801-9986.

Rodney FitzpatrickNORFOLK, Va. – Rodney Fitzpatrick, 39, formerly of New Albany, died Friday, March 29, 2013, as the result of an automobile accident in Norfolk, Va. He was born March 1, 1974, in New Albany to Kent Foote and Kathy Fitzpatrick. He was raised by his mother and his stepfather, George Jackson. He graduated from W.P. Daniel High School. He joined the Navy after school and remained in Virginia.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Watson Grove M.B. Church. Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery at New Albany. Serenity Funeral Home of New Albany is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include four children, Saxton Pinson of Pontotoc, Tyler Payton of New Albany, N’Dia Fitzpatrick of Tupelo and Nevaeh Fitzpatrick of Virginia; his fathers, Kent Foote and George Jackson; his siblings, Justin (Lisa) Foote, Jared (Dena) Foote and Jarica Foote, Carlos (Linda) Turner, Kanosha (Jeremy) Cook and Darius Wilson of Virginia; grandfather, M.I. Newton of New Albany; aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Kathy Fitzpatrick Moore, and his grandparents, Brazil and Dorothy Fitzpatrick and Mary Foote.
Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Ben FaulknerHOLLY SPRINGS – Ben Earl Faulkner, 66, died Monday, April 1, 2013, in Victoria.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Smith Grove M.B. Church in Holly Springs. Burial will be in the church cemetery. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home of Holly Springs is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home with the family hour from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The body will lie in repose at the church from 9:30 to 10:25 a.m. Saturday.

Mary EdwardsWEST POINT – Mary Louise Calhoun Edwards, 89, died Monday, April 1, 2013, at OCH Regional Hospital in Starkville.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Northside Christian Church. Burial will be in Strong HIll M.B. Church Cemetery. Carter’s Mortuary Services in West Point is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.